Oral Health Concerns for Those over 50

Although some oral health concerns are fairly common at that age, if you adopt a proactive mindset and educate yourself, these concerns do not have to be common for you.

Anticipating and recognizing changes in your mouth can help you be on top of your health in this area, so let’s take a look at the main ones you have to watch out for.

1. Dry Mouth: The most common oral health concern you’re likely to experience as you age is dry mouth.

In the medical world, dry mouth goes by the name Xerostomia, and can be brought on by many contributing factors, including the over-consumption of beverages like coffee and alcohol, as well as the frequent consumption of salty foods.

Another big offender is the medication we take to treat various illnesses. The list of offenders isn’t a short one, either – there are at least 400 medications that can contribute to Xerostomia, including medications for high blood pressure and depression.

2. Ill-fitting Dentures: First off, it’s important to note dentures aren’t always needed as we age. Today, healthier living and better access to dental care have reduced the percentage of seniors wearing dentures to 27% from nearly 50% just a few decades ago.

That said, if you or a loved one wear dentures, it’s critical that they fit properly. Dentures that cause pain or shift in the mouth tend to alter a person’s eating habits, which can lead to nutrition deficits if healthy, but hard to chew, foods are avoided.

Ill-fitting dentures can also cause thrush, which could lead to you having a rash inside of your mouth.

3. Physical Obstacles to Good Oral Care: As we age, we sometimes find ourselves having physical ailments that may limit our desire to maintain good oral care. Arthritis, vision loss, or injuries are a few of the most common.

To combat these concerns, using a floss pick to get between teeth can be helpful. The regular use of oral rinses can assist in dislodging difficult to remove food debris, while adding to the overall health of one’s mouth and gum tissue.

4. Naturally Receding Gums: “Long in the tooth” isn’t just a quaint expression about gaining wisdom with age – it also refers to how our teeth appear to “lengthen” as we grow older. In other words, it’s a fancy way of saying our gums are receding.

While some degree of gum recession is indeed natural, this predisposes us to cavities along the root structure of the tooth where enamel doesn’t exist. So, as one ages, flossing, brushing and rinses are more important than ever.

5. Gum Disease: Natural gum recession is one thing, a part of growing up if you will. Gum disease however, is preventable. Each of the above items in this list can contribute to gum disease, and good oral care can prevent it.

Failing to do so can lead to a need for dentures at its most extreme, and pain and swollen gums at its least. We’d prefer you experienced neither concern!

6. Tooth Loss: If a tooth is lost due to trauma or decay, and not replaced with an implant or other prosthetic, it can have serious complications for the health of the jawbone.

Teeth can shift out of place and fall out, and bone tissue can be resorbed back into the body. Not a good thing.

7. Loss of Insurance Coverage: Retirees without dental coverage can sometimes cover the expenses of dental care on their own; sometimes they cannot. But a lack of funds to take care of one’s teeth can be devastating to the health of our mouths, and our overall health.

We need to plan for two things: a care routine that allows us to take care of our teeth as much as humanly possible, and some sort of financial backup plan for when problems do arise.